THE MOVEMENT OF PHOSPHORUS THROUGH THE SALT MARSH CORD GRASS, SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA LOISEL1

A pathway by which phosphorus is transferred from the sediment to Spartina to the estuarine waters is described: Spartina can serve as a nutrient pump and translocate measurable quantities of phosphorus from the salt marsh sediment to the leaves; then, with measurable quantities of phosphorus from the salt marsh sediment to the leaves; then with tidal inundation, an average of 9.84 mg‐atom P/m is released in the marsh waters at each tidal cycle. Seasonal data indicate the flux of phosphorus through this system is closely associated with the productivity of the plant material in the marsh.